Energy absorbing structure in a steam generator

ABSTRACT

This invention concerns an energy absorbing liner structure at the inside of a sodium-steam generator wall which consists of two concentric thin-walled cylinders. Thin-walled tubes filled with tight compacted steel wool are fitted in the space between the two concentric cylinders. This energy absorbing structure will prevent damage to the vessel wall resulting from the effects of a sodium-water reaction.

United States Patent Van Weelderen 1 1 ENERGY ABSORBING STRUCTURE IN ASTEAM GENERATOR [75] Inventor: Adrian B. Van Weelderen,

Pensacola, Fla. [73] Assignee: The United States of America asrepresented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission, Washington,DC.

[22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 291,477

[52] US. Cl 220/10, 165/154, 220/9 A, 220/9 M, 220/63 R, 220/DIG. 9,220/DIG. 11 [51] Int. Cl B65d 3/22, B65d 25/14 [58] Field of Search 1.220/1 B, 10, 15, DIG. 9, 220/9 A. 9 L, 9 M, 9 R, 63 R, 63 A, 88 A, DIG.11; 165/70, 154

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,934,174 11/1933 Dyckerhoff165/154 Feb. 18, 1975 2,254,587 9/1941 Williams 165/154 2,440,245 4/1948Chevigny 3,301,320 1/1967 Huntington.... 3,675,746 7/1972 Irvine3,732,921 5/1973 Hilicki et a1. 165/154 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS637,898 11/1936 Germany 165/154 Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. PriceAssistant ExaminerJoseph M. Moy

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John A. Horan; Dean E. Carlson; Robert J.Marchick [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention concerns an energy absorbingliner 4 Claims, 3'Drawing Figures ENERGY ABSORBING STRUCTURE IN A STEAMGENERATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists ofimprovements in liquid sodium heated steam generators and/orsuperheaters by providing a protection against a possible sodium-waterreaction. Tube failures have occurred in the past and will occur in thefuture in conventional steam generators. The normal procedure to solvethis problem was to shut down the generator and to plug or replace thedamaged tube. If a tube fails in a sodiumsteam generator, a violentsodium-water reaction will take place, which may cause major damage tothe internal structure and the vessel shell. The probability of tubefailure over the life span of the generator is appreciable, and it istherefore believed that the vessel shell should be protected from theeffects of the pressure wave caused by a violent sodium-water reaction.Thepossible effects on the shell are excessive permanent straining ofthe wall, excessive elastic straining of the wall. or rupture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is toprevent damage to the steam generator vessel wall which may result fromtube failure and a consequent sodium-water reaction. To prevent suchdamage, an energy absorbing liner-structure shall be utilized inside thevessel boundary which encloses all internal structures. The energyabsorbing structure has the advantage of being easily replaceable,lightweight, sodium resistant, temperature resistant, easily fabricated,and shall not interfere with the overall operating purpose of thegenerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross section of a steamgenerator embodying the present invention as a liner structure along theinner periphery of the steam generator.

FIG. 2 shows an expanded portion of said liner structure showing a crosssection of the thin-walled tubes with compacted steel wool used asfillers in the absorbing liner.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate configuration in which the space between theconcentric cylinders of the liner structure are fitted with corrugatedsheet metal, with compacted steel wool again being used as fillers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, a cross section of asteam generator is shown, with the energy-absorbing liner (1) of thepresent invention disposed along the inner periphery of the steamgenerator (2). The steam generator has an outside diameter ofapproximately 40 inches and the liner sheet metal (5), of approximatelyone-eighth inch thickness and with corrugation of approximately onehalfinch pitch. The sheet metal is folded between said cylinders as shown inFIG. 3, with the spaces in be tween again being packed with compactedsteel wool to generally the same density as that packed in the tubes.

It is to be understood that the embodiment given above is presented byexample only, and not in a limit ing sense. The dimensions given aboveand the density of steel wool are not critical, the scope of the presentinvention being determined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for absorbing energy comprising:

a. two concentric thin-walled cylinders,

b. a plurality of thin-walled tubes disposed in the zone between saidcylinders in an abutting relationship with each other and with saidcylinders, said tubes extending along the entire length of saidcylinders and being tightly filled with compacted steel wool.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer cylinder has an outsidediameter in the range of from 34 to 40 inches, and an inside diameter inthe range of from 33 /2 to 39 /2 inches, and the inner cylinder has anoutside diameter in the range of from 32 /2 to 38% inches and an insidediameter in the range of from 32 to 38 inches.

3. Apparatus for absorbing energy comprising:

two concentric thin-walled cylinders, said cylinders being fitted withcorrugated sheet metal disposed between said cylinders and in anabutting relationship thereto, and with the zone between said cylindersbeing filled with tightly compacted steel wool.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the outer cylinder has an outsidediameter in the range of from 34 to 40 inches, and an inside diameter inthe range of from 33 /2 to 39% inches, and the inner cylinder has anoutside diameter in the range of from 32 /2 to 38% inches and an insidediameter in the range of from 32 to 38

1. Apparatus for absorbing energy comprising: a. two concentricthin-walled cylinders, b. a plurality of thin-walled tubes disposed inthe zone between said cylinders in an abutting relationship with eachother and with said cylinders, said tubes extending along the entirelength of said cylinders and being tightly filled with compacted steelwool.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer cylinder has anoutside diameter in the range of from 34 to 40 inches, and an insidediameter in the range of from 33 1/2 to 39 1/2 inches, and the innercylinder has an outside diameter in the range of from 32 1/2 to 38 1/2inches and an inside diameter in the range of from 32 to 38 inches. 3.Apparatus for absorbing energy comprising: two concentric thin-walledcylinders, said cylinders being fitted with corrugated sheet metaldisposed between said cylinders and in an abutting relationship thereto,and with the zone between said cylinders being filled with tightlycompacted steel wool.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the outercylinder has an outside diameter in the range of from 34 to 40 inches,and an inside diameter in the range of from 33 1/2 to 39 1/2 inches, andthe inner cylinder has an outside diameter in the range of from 32 1/2to 38 1/2 inches and an inside diameter in the range of from 32 to 38inches.